Wood-carving machine



Oct. 23, 1928.

- v 1,689,108 A. v. BREED WOOD CARVINGMACHINE Fil ed March 29, 1926 s sheets-sheet 1 gwuentoa FIG 2 ALFRED V-BREEID Oct. 23, 1928. 1,689,108

A. V. BREED woon CARVING MACHINE Filed March 29, 1926 v 5 sun -spam 2 ALFRED V. BREED Oct. 23, 1928. 1,689,108

A. v. BREED woon GARVING MACHINE Filed March 2 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ALFREDVBR ED Cal Patented Oct. 23, 1928.

UNITED STTES ALFRED v. BREED, or JAMESTOWN, NEwYon-K, ASSIGNOR TO ounrrs nAcnrnn oon- PORATION, or JAMESTOWN, new YORK, A conronnrron or I\TEW. YORK.

WOOD-CARVTNG MACHINE.

Application filed March 29, 1926.

This invention relates to an improvement in a wood carving machine of the multiple spindle type, in which the operations of the carving spindles are controlled by a template or work pattern to produce facsimiles thereof.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a carving machine which can be easily operated and controlled, and in which a great variety of work can be done, the stock operated upon, the pattern or template and the tools always being in plain view of the operator.

Another object of this invention is to provide a carving machine of the horizontal type, upon which stock longer than a mans reach can be carved.

A further object of this invention is toprovide a horizontal carving machine in which the stock is carried by a rectangular frame upon centers mounted upon said frame so that the frame can be reversed and the cutting spindles can operate on either end of the stock.

A further object of this invention is to provide a cutting machine which operates horizontally, but in which the work can be installed between the centers in substantially a vertical position, a very important feature when long stock is being carved.

Other objects of this invention will appear from a consideration of the following description taken in connection with the drawings which form a partthereof and in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a carving machine embodying one form of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional View illustrating the manner in which the cutting spindles are operated;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of such a machine, ccrt-ain of the parts being omitted for the purposes of clarity;

Fig. 4 is a rear view of such machine;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of theportions of the frame and cutting spindles; and

(3 is a view of a portion of the machine with the frame tilted to facilitate the installation of the work and illustrating another method of pivotally mounting the frame.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 10 is employed to designate the frame or standard of the machine which comprises side plates 11 connected by cross rods 12 at the front and rear, each end of the side plates 11 terminating in vertically spaced bosses 13. Mounted upon the standard 10, above the Serial No. 98,065.

side plates 11, are bars 14, supported in saddles 15 carried at the upper ends of externally threaded posts 16, which extend through the bosses 13. In addition to the posts 16 there are also provided supplementary forward supports for the bars 14, each comprising a saddle 17 carried at the upper end of a post 18 mounted in a standard 19, through a boss 20. The bars 14 aresecured in the saddles 15 and 17 in any desired manner.

The bosses 13 and 20 are notthreaded and the posts 16 and 18 can be moved freely therethrough. Threaded upon the posts 16 between the bosses 13 are sprockets 21, the hubs of which rest upon the upper faces of the lowcr bosses 13. The posts 18 are similarly supported on its standards 19 by means of wheels 22, the hubs of which rest upon the upper faces of the bosses 20. The sprockets 21 are connected by a continuous chain 23, which also engages idle sprockets 24 mounted on theinner face of the side plate 11 and functioning to draw the chain 23 back of the rods 12 at the front of the machine, so that it does not interfere in any way with the op erator. (See Figs. 2 and 6.) The sprockets being thus connected, it is obvious that by moving the chain 23 in one direction or the other the posts 16 are raised or lowered simultaneously, so that the bars 14 are at the proper height. The posts 18, being secured to the bars 14 through the saddles 17, are similarly raised or lowered, and when the bars 14 have been adjusted at the proper height, the wheels 22 are then turned to bring the hubs against the tops of the bosses 20, and thus support the front ends of the bars 14.

Mounted to move on the bars 14 is a carrier 25 comprising right angle beams 26 and a frame 27, pivotally supported by said angle beams. Depending from the under side of the horizontal portions 28 of the beams 26 are blocks 29, carryingrollers 30 concaved to engage the bars 14. The frame 27 comprises side plates 31, connected by front and rear cross plates 32 and 33 removably fixed upon the side plates.

The cross plates 32, 33 are preferably in the form of channel beams having end plates 150 at each end. a horizontal slot 151, through which projects a bolt 152 carried by each plate 150. The central portion of the plates 31 containing the slots 151 are raised, thus providing a track Ineach side plate 31 is formed 153, on which the end plates 150 slide by means of central recesses 154.

At the mid length of each of the side plates 31 (see Fig. 2) is mounted a plate 155 recessed to engage the track 153 and secured in place by means of bolts 156, which extend through upper and lower flanges 1 57 158 into the edges of the side plates 31. Stub shafts 34 are fixed in the plates 155 and project through the slots 151, and the side plates 31.

In 6 the'slots 151 are shown interrupted at the center and the stud shafts 34 are mount- 7 eddirectly in the interrupted portion between the slots.

W tio'ni'ng position which is parallel to the beams 26, pins 36, at each end of the frame, are passed through openings in'the side plates 31 into'openings formed in the vertical portions'o'f the beams 26. (See Figs. 3 and 4.)

'- As a further support for the frame 27 there are provided plates 37 secured to the tops of the cross plates 32 and -33 by bolts 38. The plates -37extend'above the beams 26, and are provided -witlrbolts 39 which bear against the *tops of the beams so that by means of the bolts the frame 27 can be raised or lowered into the proper position. The plates 37 and bolts 39 are sufiicient in themselves to support the frame on the beams and'the pins 36 can be'omitted if they prevent the proper levelingof the frame. Suitable lock washers 40 are provided to secure the "bolts 39 in their adjusted positions.

The stoekor work is fixed in the frame 27 by means of centers 41 and 42 mounted upon the cross plates 32 and 33. The centers 41 comprise pins 43, which are clamped to the inner wall of the cross plate 32 by means o'f the nuts '44. The centers 42 each comprise a shaft 45 carrying at its inner end a plate 46,-on which are'provided a-plurality of pins 47. Mounted upon and rigidly secured to eachshaft 45 is a gear wheel 48, which meshes with a worm 49 carried by a shaft 50 supported in a plurality of bearings 51 on the outer face of the rear cross plate 33. The shaft 50 is rotated by a gear 52, which enga es with a worm 53 on the shaft, and which is riven by means of a flexible shaft 54 from a motor 55. V

The middle pair of centers act to support the -template or work pattern 160 in the usual manner, While the other pairs support the stock oneach side of the template 160. When the'workn's introduced, the pins 43 and plates 46 are advanced by means of wheels 56, 57 respectively, until the pins 43 and 47 enter and rigidly engage the stock. When the stock and the pattern have been suitably as here shown terminate in vertical plates 61, and horizontal plates 62. The plates 62 rest upon the upper faces of the side plates 11 between the uprights 60, and are secured thereto by means of bolts "63, while the Vertical plates 61are secured to the outer faces of the side plates 11 by bolts 64.

The uprights are bowed, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, so as not to interfere in any way with the movement of the carrier 25 on the rods 14. Supported by the uprights 60 is a channelled cross beam 65 having at each end blocks 66, which extend into vertical pockets 67 formed in the uprights 60. Extending into the pockets 67 from above are screw shafts 68, which are threaded through the blocks 66 so that the latter are raised or lowered by the rotation of the shafts. On the upper end' of each shaft 68 is a gear 69 in mesh with a gear 70 carried by a shaft 71. The shaft 71 terminates at each end in handles 72, so that by either handle 72 the cross beam 65, by reason of the relation of the shafts 68 and blocks 66 can be raised or lowered to suit the type of 'work'to be operated upon. The cross shaft 71 is supported by brackets 7 3, which carry bearings 74 located at suitable distances from the gears 70. Each gear 70 has a collar 75 fixedby a stud 76 to the shaft.

The collars 75 are at the outer face of each bearing 74, so that the shaft 71 is held in place with the gears 70 in mesh with the gears 69. Carried by brackets 77 at each end of the cross beam 65 and free to rotate therein is a shaft 78, the purpose of which will be set forth below. i

In front of and supported by the cross beam 65 is the operating mechanism 80, by which the stock is carved. This mechanism 80 includes a channelled cross bar 81, which is supported from the cross beam 65 by means of hinges 82. These hinges 82consists of leaves 83, 84, the former being pivoted to brackets 85 on "the cross beam 65, and the latter being pivoted to brackets 86 on the cross bar 81. The leaves 83 and 84are pivot-ally joined by vertical pins 87.

Mounted at the-middle of the cross bar 81 a plat-for1n'88 for a motor'89. This platform comprises angle brackets 90 rigidly secured to the front and top of the cross bar.

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Adjacent each end of the cross bar 81 aremounted supports having bearings 96 in alignment with the center bearing of the motor 89. The motor shaft 97 is thus supported at each end in the bearings 96, and has fixed thereto at suitable intervals a plurality of pulleys 98, the purpose of which will be set forth hereinbelow.

At each end of the cross bar 81 are rigidly secured forwardly projecting brackets 99, in

which is pivotally supported a beam 100. This beam consists of upper and lower plates 101, 102 connected at each end by blocks 103, to the outer faces of which are secured stub shafts 104, which extend through the bearings 105 in the brackets 99. Intermediate blocks 106 between the blocks 103 further act to position the plates 101, 102. Supported on vertical pivot pins 107 in the plates 101, 102 are arms 108, the inner ends of which extend into the space between the plates 101, 102.

Each arm 108 terminates at its outer end in a yoke 109 formed by vertically spaced fingers 110, which function as the outer leaves of a vertical hinge, the center leaf 111 proj ecting rearwardly from a cutter bar 112, and being fixed in place by a vertical pin 113.

The cutter bar 112, while thus always held parallel to the beam 100, is free to move relative thereto in the same plane, and by reason of the pivotal mounting of the beam 100 the cutter bar 112 may be raised or lowered relative to the cross bar 81, while remaining parallel thereto.

Pivotally mounted on the cutter bar 112 are a plurality of cutting spindles 114, preferably of the Lochman type, as shown in Patent No. 832,136. The spindles 114 carry cutters 115 at their lower ends and are connected at their upper ends by a rod 116 pivotally secured to each spindle. Intermediate the length of each spindle 114, preferably back of the cutter bar 112 is provided a pulley 117 on the cutter shaft, over which passes a. belt 118, which is driven by a pulley 98 on the motor shaft 97. Guide pulleys 119, 120 and 121 act to keep the belt 118 taut and to permit the cutter bar 112 to be moved relative to the beam 100 without disturbing the driving operation.

A C-shaped plate 122 is vertically pivoted on the cross bar 81 by means of a bracket 123 and a pin 124. The pulley 119 is carried in supports on the lower arm 125 of the plate 122, while the pulley 120 is carriedon a strap 126 depending from the upper arm 127 of the plate 122. The pulley 121 acts to tension or take up the slack in the belt 118 automatically. This pulley is mounted on a rod 128 carried by a'sleeve 129 and normally urged outwardly by any suitable means against the belt 118. When the machine is set up the strap 126 is swung into and fixed in a posit-ion so that the pulley 120 holds the belt somewhat but not altogether taut, the pulley 121 being relied upon to take up any slack automatically and prevent any lost movement.

In order to counterbalance the turning force'exerted on the beam 100 by the weight of the arms 108, the cutter bar 112, the spindles 114 and the other elements which are supported by the beam 100, weights 130 are mounted on rods 131 fixed in sleeves 132 on the stub shafts 104 outside the brackets 99. The weights 130 may be adjustably located on the rods 131, so that the entire port-ion of the operating mechanism carried by the beam 100 can be moved easily by the operator. The weight of the entire operating mecha nism 80 is similarly counterbalanced at the hinges 82 for the same reason.

The shaft 78 carries fixed standards 134 at each end and the cross bar 81 carries similar corresponding standards 135 directly in front of the standards 134. Each pair of standards 134, 135 is connected by a link 136 having at each end a bearing 137, which turns freely on a pin 138 carried by each standard.v Weights 139 adjustable on rods 140 carried by the shaft 78 normally tend to turn the shaft, and through the standards 134, the links 136 and standards 135 draw the crossbar 81 toward the main beam 65, thus closing the hinges 82.

Mounted on the top of the main beam 65 at each end are brackets 141, which extend forwardly over thecross bar 81 and the beam 100 terminating in tongues 142. On each bracket 99 is a fixed post 143 which carries a yoke 144 by and between the arms 145 of which is rotatably supported a roller 146. Each tongue 142 of a. bracket 141 extends between the arm 145 of each yoke 144, bearing against the roller 146. The upper face 147 of each tongue 142 is sli htly inclined forwardly and upwardly so that as the operating mechanism 80 is drawn forwardly increasing the strain on the hinges 82 the rollers will bear against the upper faces 147 and assist to support the mechanism 80. The yokes 144 are adjustably secured to the posts 143, so that the height of the rollers 146 can be set to any predetermined amount.

The standards 134 and 135 and the links 136 co-act with the brackets 141 and rollers 146 to control the movement of the hinges 82 and to insure the operationof both hinges simultaneously and to the same amount, thus preventing any shifting of the cross bar 81 out of parallelism with the main beam 65.

The fingers 93 and 94 limit the movementof 7 carv ing machine of the horizontal type in which the stock can be so turned.

The stock can be readily turned due to the pivotal position ofthe frame 27 upon the shaft 34-and supported inthe carrier 25. After the operator has carved one end of the stock the carrier 25 is drawn forward on the bars let and the frame 27 is swung at half revolution on the shaft "34 turning the stock end for end without changing the alignment so that the operator can complete his (carving and-the work on the secondend will meet-exactly the work on the first end.

Such mounting of .the frame 27 advantageous when long stock is to be worked. The frame 27 is swung into the position shown-in Figure 6, and the stock quickly and accurate- 1y mounted between the centers ll and =12, much more easily than if the frame could-not be so moved and the stock had to be mounted horizontally.

While one embodiment of-this in vcn tion has been shown and described, applicant is not limited thereto, since it is obvious that other embodimentscan be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthis invention as set forth in the following claims.

Having thus set forth my invention what I claim as new for which I desire protection by Letters Patent is:

1. In a woodcarving machine, astandard, uprights fixed to said standard,-a-cross beam supported by said uprights, operating mechanism, vertical hinges connecting said beam to said mechanism, a rectangular frame pivotally mounted in said standard and centers in said frame between which are carried the template and stockon which said mechanism operates.

2. In a wood carving machine, a standard, uprights carried by said standard, a cross beam fixed upon said uprights, vertical hinges carried by cross beam, a cross bar supported by said hinges, a beam supported from said cross bar on horizontal pivots, arms vertically pivoted on said beam, a cutting bar pivotally supported on said arms and cutting spindles and a work supporting frame movably mounted on said standard below said cutting spindies.

3. In a wood carving machine, a standard, angle beams supported by and movable horizontally over said standard, a frame between and carried by said beams, said frame com prising side plates pivotally connected to said beams, and front and rear cross plates adjustably fixed on said side plates, centers on said cross plates between which the template and work are carried and means for rotating said template and work.

4:. In a wood carving machine, a standard, posts movable vertically in said standard, means for raising and lowering said posts simulta'neously, horizontal bars supported on said posts, angle beams, rollers carried by said beams andresting on said bars, a frame pivota'lly supported between said beams, and centers on said frame by which the template and work are carried.

5. A wood carving machine, a standarchnpright-s ca ried by said standard, cross beam fixed upon said uprights, vertical hinges carried by the said cross beam, a cross barvsupported by said hinges, abeam supported from said cross bar and .pivots,:arms vertically pivoted on'said beam, a cutting'bar pivotally supported on said arms, cutting spindles, a work carrier comprising angle beams, a frame pivotally mounted upon said beams, centers on said frame between which are'carried the tem plate and work whereby said cutting spindles may be moved into engagement with said work and as one face of the work is completed the pivotally mounted frame may be rotated to its inverted positionand further actionby said cutting spindles maybe accomplishedon the reverse face of said work.

6. In a wood carving machine, a workcarrier comprising angle beams, a frame pivotally mounted upon said beams, centers on said frameabetween which are carriedlthe template and work, adjustable means carried by said frame adapted to slightly alter the position of said frame with rclationto said'beams 7. In a woodcarving machine,,a work carrier comprising angle beams, a frame pivotally mounted upon said beams, centers onsaid frame between which are carried the-template and work, plates carried by said frame, bolts threadably engaging the ,outerends of said plates and adapted to bear upon and support said frame at slightly varying angles with relation to saidzbeams. I

In testimony WhereofIhave aflixed my signature.

ALFRED V. BREED.

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